Sofia Sam, charged with husband’s murder, grieved like a widow, says Sam’s family

Sofia Sam accused of poisoning husband Sam, kissed his dead body and wept over his casket, says family.

Source: Asianet News

Police believe Indian-origin Sam Abraham who died last October at his Epping home was poisoned by his wife, Sofia Sam.

While investigation is being carried out by the police, family members of Sam in Kerala, India have spoken about how Sofia wept over Sam’s casket and kissed his face at the time of his funeral in India.

Sofia and Sam Abraham (Left to Right) Source: Malayalam Manorama

The family spoke to Australian newspaper Herald Sun and said they were shocked when they learnt of Sofia’s arrest.

Samuel Abraham Sr spoke about a conversation he had with his son in India when he visited them, just days before he died in Melbourne in October 2015.

“He was leaving India at the end of holiday, going home to Australia, and said: ‘I might die soon’. He used to say those things ... a passing comment, so we didn’t take it seriously,” Abraham Sr was quoted saying by Herald Sun.

Three days later, the family received news of his death.

Sofia Sam flew to Kerala with Sam’s body and their 7-year-old son.

Photographs of the funeral show Sofia sitting next to Sam’s body lying in the casket. Before he was buried, Sofia was pictured kissing Sam’s head and weeping over his casket.

“Her behaviour had been just what one would expect from a grieving widow,” Abraham Sr said.

He also said that Sofia soon moved to another house in Melbourne and continued to keep in touch with the family, calling them every week.

“She called every week ... until she was arrested.”

SBS Hindi reported last month that Victoria Police had charged Sofia Sam and her male friend, Arun Kam­alasanan, resident of Port Melbourne, with murder. Mr Kamalasanan had also been charged with attempted murder for allegedly attacking Sam at Lalor train station, three months before his death.

Police have told the court that they have CCTV footage as well as telephone conversations as evidence. They have sought time from the court to get those telephone conversations translated from Malayalam to English.

Sofia Sam and her friend Arun Kamalasanan will reappear in court in February.